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Wednesday July 10, 2013 5:32 AM

The shooting death of Brian Vura a week ago has shaken some people in the Olde North Columbus
neighborhood, and leaders are holding a meeting tonight to discuss that and other crime-related
issues with police.

Tom Wildman, a University Area commissioner, set the meeting for 6 p.m. at the Northwood and
High Building, 2231 N. High St. He said he is concerned not only with Vura’s death but also with
other gun-related crimes in the neighborhood, which is in the northern part of the University
District.

In an email, Wildman said he wants to see more streetlights and block watches in the
neighborhood.

Vura, who would have turned 30 last weekend, was shot through the windshield of his car outside
his duplex at 2435 Medary Ave. about 12:30 a.m. last Wednesday after returning from watching a
Cleveland Indians game at the Bier Stube on N. High Street.

“There was nothing suspicious at the bar. It was a pretty slow night,” said Craig Kempton, who
co-owns the Bier Stube. He said he watched the game with Vura and described Vura as a regular.

“Brian doesn’t have any enemies,” he said.

Vura’s girlfriend’s parents have posted yellow fliers around the neighborhood that read, “Who
murdered Brian?” The fliers offer a $1,000 reward, given by the girlfriend’s parents, and list the
Central Ohio Crime Stoppers phone number of 614-461-8477 to call with information.

Vura was a manager at the Hang Over Easy Diner at 1646 Neil Ave. He had graduated from Lorain
Admiral King High School in 2001 and attended Ohio State University.

Neighborhood resident Benjamin Zahler, an Ohio State University senior from suburban Chicago,
said the area has many graduate students and families and described it as safe.

“I have never really felt uncomfortable around here,” said Zahler, 22.

Columbus police Cmdr. Chris Bowling, who oversees the University District, said there have been
no other noticeable spikes in violence in the area, beyond the shooting last week and a few
robberies.

“My supervisors would be the first to say something,” he said. “They certainly aren’t shy about
asking for resources, and I’m not hearing that.”

Homicide detectives were working to find evidence in Vura’s killing, Bowling said.

“This isn’t one of those ones where you know who did it because it was a domestic thing or a
dope deal gone bad,” Bowling said. “Right now, it’s a whodunit, and there aren’t any of those other
factors out there.”